Stacks of Racks

I don't know how many racks I have looked at, either online or in the metal, over the last two weeks. The problem is that I am fussy. I wanted it all - something lightweight that could easily handle the load of a week long unsupported tour and provide enough clearance for my size 11 feet when carrying my large-ish pannier bags.

I also ended up buying (and returning) quite a few racks: the Tortec Ultralite, which I like a lot but proved incompatible with the frame; the Racktime Lightit, which proved to be too short, not providing enough heel clearance; the Tortec Velocity that fouled the 'guards; ...

To cut a long story short, I eventually settled on a Racktime Addit; a solid looking rack, only a very small weight penalty over the Lightit version, but crucially with longer rails which allow mounting the pannier bag further back (and a second set of rails to mount the bag lower, should I choose to), so giving very generous heel clearance. It is also helps that it is beautifully designed and built, certainly a good example of what the Germans are so famous for. I've done a test fit and it is spot-on; but I'll leave the final proper fitting until I do the "tourer conversion" during the week when the missing parts arrive.

Time to enjoy a beer, then!